University Of Texas Pan American: Student Population Insights

The University of Texas Pan American, which merged with UT Brownsville in 2015 to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, was located in Edinburg, Texas. The former campus now serves as the main campus of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and sits on a 238-acre site. In the fall of 2024, the university enrolled 34,343 students, making it the ninth-largest university in the state of Texas.

The University of Texas Pan American no longer exists as an independent entity

The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) was a public university located in Edinburg, Texas. It was founded in 1927 as a two-year community college and, over the years, grew to become a four-year university offering a range of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

UTPA served the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas, with a focus on meeting the educational needs of the region. The majority of its students were natives of the Rio Grande Valley, and the university maintained strong ties to the local community through its medical school and healthcare programs.

In 2015, UTPA merged with the University of Texas-Brownsville to form the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). This merger was part of an initiative to increase access to post-secondary education in South Texas. As a result, UTPA ceased to exist as an independent entity, and its former campus in Edinburg became the main campus of UTRGV.

UTRGV continues to serve the region, offering a diverse range of programs, including biomedical sciences, business, and humanities. The university retains the campuses of its predecessor institutions, including the Edinburg campus, and plays a crucial role in the local community.

The transformation of UTPA into UTRGV was a significant change, but it ensured the continued availability of higher education opportunities in the area and allowed for the expansion of programs and facilities.

It merged with UT Brownsville to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) was a public university in Edinburg, Texas. Founded in 1927, it was a component institution of the University of Texas System. The university served the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas, with a predominantly Hispanic student population.

UTPA merged with UT Brownsville in 2015 to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The merger was approved in December 2012 by the University of Texas regents, with the aim of securing increased state funds and building a medical school. The merger was also motivated by the deteriorating relationship between UT Brownsville and the local Brownsville community college, Texas Southmost College (TSC).

The history of TSC, UTB, UTPA, and UTRGV is embedded in the history of higher education in Texas, particularly its long history of discrimination against Hispanics and other underrepresented groups. The creation of UTRGV is part of a decades-long commitment to improving educational opportunities for Mexican Americans in the state.

UTPA and UT Brownsville had a long history together before the merger. Pan American University, the precursor of UTPA, established a satellite location in Brownsville in 1973, which later became UT Brownsville. In 1989, Pan American University joined the University of Texas System, which led to the creation of the University of Texas Pan-American at Brownsville (UTPA-B). In 1991, UTPA-B sought its own recognition within the system and became UT Brownsville, the 15th institution within the UT system.

The merger of UTPA and UT Brownsville faced some challenges, including the need to divide UTB/TSC first. The close relationship between the two institutions, which shared accreditation, faculty, and buildings, made the split especially complicated. Additionally, there were initial complications with recognizing course credits from UTPA and UT Brownsville due to changes in course numbering and names. However, these issues were eventually resolved, and UTRGV was removed from probation in December 2018.

The consolidation of UTPA and UT Brownsville successfully created a large research university with greater access to resources. UTRGV has a medical school and is working towards becoming a major research institution. The combined undergraduate enrollment at UTPA and UT Brownsville increased by almost 11% from 21,644 in 2010 to 24,023 at UTRGV in fall 2016.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public research university

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a public research university with multiple campuses throughout the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas. It was created in 2013 by the Texas Legislature after the consolidation of the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College and the University of Texas–Pan American. The university officially opened on 31 August 2015, with its main campus in Edinburg.

UTRGV offers a wide range of degree programmes, including 86 bachelor's, 75 master's, and 15 doctoral programmes. The university's academic foundation is formed by eleven colleges and schools, including the College of Medicine and Health Affairs, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

In the fall of 2024, UTRGV enrolled 34,343 students, making it the ninth-largest university in Texas and the fourth-largest academic institution in the University of Texas system. The university has a diverse student body, with 89.2% of its students identifying as Hispanic in Fall 2017, and it is ranked highly for social mobility and low student loan debt.

UTRGV empowers successful futures, enhances daily life, and positions the Rio Grande Valley as a global innovator in higher education, bilingual education, health education, biomedical research, and emerging technology. The university is committed to enhancing the daily lives of its students and the wider community, offering comprehensive on-campus housing options and maintaining strong ties to the local community through its medical school and healthcare programmes.

It is the ninth-largest university in the state of Texas

The University of Texas Pan American, which merged with the University of Texas Brownsville in 2015 to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), is the ninth-largest university in the state of Texas. The former campus of the University of Texas Pan American is now the main campus of UTRGV. The university's property totals 550 acres, with 105 buildings spread across multiple campuses throughout the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas. The Edinburg Campus, which was formerly the University of Texas Pan American, is the main campus of UTRGV.

UTRGV is a public research university and the southernmost member of the University of Texas System. The university was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 after the consolidation of the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College and the University of Texas–Pan American. The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved the proposal to merge and eliminate both the University of Texas–Pan American and the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College in December 2012. Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the bill approving the creation of the new university in June 2013.

In the fall of 2024, UTRGV enrolled 34,343 students, making it the ninth-largest university in Texas in terms of student enrollment. The university is also the fourth-largest academic institution in the University of Texas system. UTRGV offers a diverse range of programs, including biomedical sciences, business, and humanities. The university is classified as a "Doctoral University – High research activity" and has a medical school.

The student body of UTRGV is predominantly Hispanic, with 89.2% of its students identifying as Hispanic, specifically Mexican Americans. In 2017, the university was ranked third in the country by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine for awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanic students. The university also has a strong presence in the local community through its medical school and healthcare programs.

In-state tuition & fees are $9,541, while out-of-state is $19,333

The University of Texas Pan American, now known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) after its merger with UT Brownsville in 2015, offers undergraduate programs to students at a cost that varies based on their state of residence. For the 2020-2021 academic year, the combined out-of-state tuition and fees at UTRGV were $19,333 for undergraduates, while in-state students enjoyed a discounted rate of $9,541 per year.

The cost of attendance, or "sticker price," for students pursuing higher education can be a significant factor in their decision-making process. This comprehensive fee typically includes tuition, room and board, textbooks, and personal expenses for a full-time student over one academic year. At UTRGV, the total annual cost for out-of-state students is $33,037, while in-state students can expect to pay $23,242.

The tuition fees for out-of-state students at UTRGV are comparable to the national out-of-state average of $19,933 per year. In contrast, the in-state tuition at UTRGV is significantly lower than the countrywide average of $16,784. This makes UTRGV an attractive option for students seeking a quality education at a lower cost, especially for those from Texas.

The cost of attendance for out-of-state students at UTRGV includes tuition of $17,649, room and board of $8,888, textbooks and educational resources of $1,196, fees of $1,684, and other expenses of $3,620. On the other hand, in-state students are charged $7,854 for tuition, with the same additional costs as out-of-state students, bringing their total annual expenses to a more affordable figure.

It is important to note that these figures are subject to change over time and may increase annually. Additionally, they do not include financial aid or scholarships that students may qualify for, which can significantly reduce the overall cost of attendance.

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